Sectional molded easel device



1960 c. E. JOHNSON SECTIONAL MOLDED EASEL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1959 INVENTOR. Cm. E. JOHNSON, BY

Arron/Er Fiat.

Nov. 1, 1960 C. E. JOHNSON SECTIONAL MOLDED EASEL DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fic.?.

INVENTOR. CARL E. dm-msou,

F is. 6.

Arr-onus) 2,958,490 Patented Nov. 1, i960 ice SECTIONAL MOLDED EASEL DEVICE Carl E. Johnson, 418 NW. 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,367 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-34) This invention relates to a sectional molded plastic easel forming device for the detachable support of a picture supporting frame.

The invention contemplates a multiple sectional easel including a diagonal brace arm and a picture supporting frame, all molded in a common mold in integral relation to be subsequently broken apart for assembly into an upstanding easel and with the brace arm being detachably engaged with the easel and the picture frame being also detachably engaged with the easel in a snap-on relation.

The invention contemplates an easel having divergent leg portions, a frame rest, lateral arms that are forked at their outer ends, a brace arm for snapping engagement with the easel to maintain the same in an upstanding position and a picture supporting frame having a pair of lugs upon its rear portion that have snapping engagement into the forked ends of the arms and whereby the entire assembly is supported in an upright manner to display a photograph or the like within the opening of the frame.

The invention also contemplates an easel having the above noted characteristics and with an adaptor bar that has snapping engagement with the forked ends of the arms and with the adaptor bar extending beyond the arms to support an elongated rectangular frame.

Novel features of the construction will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated the preferred forms of the device wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an easel constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof with the easel and a picture supporting frame in assembled relation;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the assembled easel and supporting frame;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of the device;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the easel and a supporting frame in assembled relation; and

Figure 7 is a front view of the assembly shown in Figure 6, but with the frame being disposed at a right angle.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1-4 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates an easel as a whole that is integrally molded from suitable plastics material. The easel embodies divergent leg portions 6. The legs, upwardly from their lower ends are provided with an integral ledge 7, provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 8 adjacent the outer ends thereof. The legs 6, adjacent the upper portions are provided with a pair of integral laterally extending fiat arms 9, that are forked at their outer ends, as at 10. The easel adjacent its apex is provided with a rectangular slot 11, that frictionally receives a tongue 12 carried by a brace arm 13. The structure so far described is adapted to be [v1 assembled in an upright manner with the tongue 12 having a snap-in engagement with the slot 11 to dispose the brace arm 13 at an angle with respect to the easel and whereby to support the easel in an upright manner, shown more clearly in Figure 2. An integral forwardly projecting lug 6a is provided adjacent the upper end and intermediate the width of the easel, for a purpose to be later described.

A molded plastic open frame 14 is provided upon its vertical end portions and upon its rear side, with a pair of cylindrical studs 15. The frame 14 has been proportioned to dispose the studs 15 in a manner to have a snapping engagement into the forks 10 and the arms 9. The frame 14 upon its rear wall is provided with a raised circumferential rib 16, forming a recess 17, adapted to receive a photograph or the like that is held within the frame when the frame is disposed in assembled relation to the easel.

In the use of this form of the invention, the brace arm 13 is engaged with the easel by snapping the tongue 12 into the slot 11. The frame 14 is then seated upon the ledge 7 with the lower marginal portion of the frame disposed behind the lugs 8. The frame is then shifted toward the easel, causing the studs 15 to snap within the forks 10 of the arms 9, it being understood that the forks 10 are yieldable within limits to frictionally receive the studs. A picture or the like is inserted between the rear face of the frame and the easel 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, there has been provided a similar easel device 18, having divergent legs 19 and an integral horizontally arranged supporting ledge 20. The ledge 20 is provided with the upstanding lugs 21, similar to the lugs 8. The legs 19 are also provided with the arms 22 similar to the arms 9 and the arms 22 forked at their outer ends as at 23. The easel is also slotted at its upper end as at 24, to receive a tongue 25, carried by a brace arm 26, similar in all respects to the brace arm 13. In this form of the invention, there has been provided an adaptor for supporting a relatively longer picture supporting frame. The adaptor comprises a fiat molded plastic bar 27, that is forked at its opposite ends, as at 28. The bar 27 is slotted, at 27 for a purpose to be presently described. The bar 27 inwardly from its opposite ends is provided with rearwardly directed cylindrical studs 29. The studs 29 correspond in spacing to the slots 23 and also correspond in spacing to the studs 15, provided upon the frame 14. The studs 29 are adapted to have a snapping engagement into the forked ends 23 of the arms 22, at assembly of the device. Adapted to have a snapping engagement with the adaptor bar 27, is an elongated or rectangular frame 30. The frame 30 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending cylindrical studs 31, that are spaced in accordance with the spacing of the forked ends 28 of the bar 27. In all other respects, the frame 30 is substantially identical to the frame 14. In Figure 7, the rectangular frame 30 has been disposed in an upright manner and, in order to connect the frame to the easel, the bar 27 is connected to the frame, as in Figure 6. With the frame in an upright manner, the bar 27 is vertically disposed and a forwardly projecting lug 19 has snapping engagement within the slot 27 of the bar, thus supporting the frame with respect to the easel, while the lower end of the frame is engaged behind the lugs 21, as before.

In the use of this form of the invention, the bar is assembled with respect to the easel 18 by snapping the studs 29 into the forks 23 of the arms 22. The brace arm 26 is then assembled with respect to the easel 18 by snapping the tongue 25 into the slot 24. The frame 30 is then supported upon the ledge 20, with its bottom disposed behind the lugs 21, holding the frame against slip ping forwardly from the ledge. The frame 39 is then swung rearwardly, causing the studs 31 to have a snapping engagement into the forks 28, it being understood, that a picture to be displayed is first disposed in overlying relation to the rear side of the frame 30 so that the picture will be held against the frame when the frame is swung into contacting relation with the easel and the bar 27. The structure is easily and quickly assembled and just as easily disassembled. It is pointed out, that the several units, embodying the easel 5, the brace arm 13, the adaptor bar 27 and the frames 14 and 30 are all simultaneously molded in a common mold to be subsequently broken apart to form the several separate units. While an easel 18 has been illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, it is to be understood, that only a single easel will be molded in combination with a single brace arm, a single adaptor bar 27 and a pair of frame devices 14 and 30. The structure readily adapts itself to molding from plastic and the forked ends of the arms 9 and the bar 27, being of plastic, will be slightly yieldable to receive studs 15, 29 and 31. With the use of the bar 27, a rectangular frame can easily be supported against the easel either in a horizontal or a vertical manner.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of easel device has been provided. The Structure is simple, cheap to manufacture and easily assembled without the use of separate fastening devices. The several elements may be molded in various colors and forms an easel support for display photographs or the like that is ornamental in appearance.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An easel device of the character described for supporting a picture display frame, comprising an easel that embodies a pair of downwardly divergent legs, a frame supporting ledge and a pair of oppositely extending connector arms all molded integral from plastics, a brace arm that is detachably connected to the easel adjacent its upper end to extend rearwardly and downwardly whereby to support the easel in an upright manner, a picture display frame that has resting engagement upon the ledge, means formed on the ledge for holding the frame against displacement therefrom and means formed on the frame that has detachable engagement with the connector arms whereby to hold the frame and a supported picture against the easel.

2. A molded easel device embodying an easel frame having a pair of connected downwardly divergent legs, the legs adjacent their lower ends being provided with a horizontal supporting ledge, the legs adjacent the upper end of the easel being provided with a pair of oppositely extending connector arms and with the legs, the ledge and the arms all being integrally molded, the arms at their terminal ends being slotted, a brace arm that is molded from plastics and that has a detachable snapping engagement within an opening formed in the easel whereby to support the easel in an upright manner, the ledge device being provided adjacent its ends and at its forward edge with a pair of upstanding lugs, an open frame device for supporting a picture to be displayed, a rear side of the frame being provided with a pair of integral studs that have snapping engagement within the slots formed in the arms whereby to hold the frame in a supported position upon the ledge and against the forward face of the easel.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the slots of the arms provide yieldable tongues, the said studs adapted to be forcibly engaged into the slots and with the lower marginal portion of the frame disposed behind the lugs of the ledge.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the easel adjacent its upper end is slotted, the said brace arm having a tongue formed at its upper end that has fractional engagement into the slot of the easel.

5. An easel device of the character described for supporting a picture display frame that comprises an easel forming body having a pair of integrally formed downwardly divergent legs, a picture supporting frame supporting ledge that is formed integral with the easel legs adjacent their lower ends, the ledge being formed flat and provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of upstanding lugs, the legs adjacent the upper end of the easel being provided with a pair of integral oppositely extending arms, the terminal ends of the arms being slotted to form flexible tongues, the easel adjacent its upper end being slotted, a brace device that is provided with a tongue at its upper end to have frictional engagement within the last named slot whereby to support the easel in an upright manner, an adaptor bar that is slotted at its opposite ends to form flexible tongues, the bar inwardly from its opposite ends being provided with rearwardly directed studs that are adapted to have frictional snapping engagement into the slots of the arms, a rectangular picture supporting frame that is adapted to have resting engagement upon the ledge behind the lugs, the said frame at its opposite ends being provided with rearwardly extending studs that have snapping frictional engagement into the slots of the bar, the said bar having a detachable connection with the arms of the easel and the frame having a detachable connection with the bar.

6. An easel device of the character described for supporting a picture display frame that comprises an easel forming body having a pair of integrally formed downwardly divergent legs, a picture supporting frame supporting ledge that is formed integral with the easel legs adjacent their lower ends, the ledge being formed flat and provided adjacent its opposite ends with a pair of upstanding lugs, the legs adjacent the upper end of the easel being provided with a pair of integral oppositely extending arms, the terminal ends of the arms being slotted to form flexible tongues, the easel adjacent its upper end being slotted, a brace device that is provided with a tongue atv its upper end to have frictional engagement within the last named slot whereby to support the easel in an upright manner, an adaptor bar that is slotted at its opposite ends to form flexible tongues, the bar inwardly from its opposite ends being provided with rearwardly directed studs, the said bar intermediate its length being slotted, a rectangular picture supporting frame that is adaptedto have resting engagement upon the ledge behind the lugs, the said frame at its opposite ends being provided with rearwardly extending studs that have snapping frictional engagement into the end slots of the bar, the said easel adjacent its upper end and intermediate its width being provided with a forwardly projecting stud that is adapted to have snapping engagement into the intermediate slot of the bar when the frame and adaptor bar assembly are disposed in an upright manner against the easel and whereby to hold the frame against outward swinging movement with respect to the easel.

Hartwell Oct. 23, 1888 Herbert Oct. 14, 1930 Grobholz May 28, 1946 

